During these uncertain times, with COVID-19 hogging most of the bandwidth, are New Year’s resolutions still a thing?
That might have been a silly question 12 months ago, but who could have predicted that we’d now be in the midst of a worldwide pandemic? So if last year’s plans got derailed in early March, you’re not alone. My pledge to go whole-foods, watch the carbs, and circumvent the impending ‘dad bod’ also fell short of expectations.
With that in mind and 2021 just beginning, maybe it’s time to exit the perpetual “Groundhog Day” that has plagued 2020 and start setting some goals. If you’re still not convinced, remember the aphorism: “This too shall pass.”
Indeed, the approved vaccines have provided a light at the end of this tunnel, and we may want to consider how to emerge from this pandemic. For me, 20 pounds heavier is not an option. I’m shooting once again for lean and fit.
And to do that, I need to rethink my relationship to food. Which doesn’t mean lugging the refrigerator and pantry out to the garage. After all, food will be close at hand as long as we’re working from home.
It’s about changing how we fill those cupboards and shelves. Whether it’s due to COVID anxiety, or the many added hours of Netflix and network news, our penchant for snacks and junk carbs has gone through the roof.
Time to Start Preparing More ‘From Scratch’
It is time to make healthier choices.
I get the whole ‘prepper’ mentality. You may feel the need to stock up on processed foods (with their longer shelf life) just in case… But don’t make these your daily go-to meals. Now is the ideal opportunity to dust off some of those recipe books and prepare more from scratch – using basic ingredients.
That may mean more frequent shopping trips, as you can’t stockpile a month’s worth of produce and other fresh items. If that makes you nervous, why not give online shopping a try?
Shop Vince’s Online via Instacart
At Vince’s, we recently switched over to Instacart – one of North America’s leading online shopping platforms – and it’s easy to use. Check out an earlier announcement for more details. Bottom line: you can maintain a steady flow of fresh fruits, veggies, breads, meats, etc. every few days. Ditto for some of our own freshly-prepared items like pizza, lasagna, roast chicken, homemade-style soups, and more.
All of which makes flipping the switch to a healthier lifestyle that much easier.
Cooking with basic ingredients may take more time and effort than opening a can or popping a frozen tray in the oven, but homemade tastes better. And making mealtime a team effort can be a bonding experience for the family.
Not to mention an opportunity to pry the kids off their devices, if just for a few minutes!
So keeping in mind that your body processes roughly one ton of food every year, let’s resolve to improve the quality of what we take in. This New Year is our chance not only to get vaccinated and hopefully back to normal, but in terms of our diet, lifestyle and health, become even better than ‘normal’.
Let’s call 2021 a “do it to yourself” project! In the meantime, stay safe and be well.
— Neil
